One of Us, For All of Us: Zohran Mamdani’s New York Revolution

New York City voters have chosen Zohran Mamdani as their next mayor, concluding a closely watched race that centered on affordable living, public safety, and city reform. 

At 34-years-old, Mamdani will become the youngest mayor in over a century and the city’s first Muslim mayor, succeeding Eric Adams. His campaign emphasized policies aimed at improving public transit, expanding access to social services, and addressing the high cost of living. The race drew attention not only for its historic outcome but also for what it revealed about changing voter demographics and priorities.

The result of Mamdani’s victory came in during the first hour of polls closing. According to NBC News, Mamdani started off leading the polls at around 51% of the vote, followed by Cuomo at 39%, and Sliwa third at 8%. Mamdani held the highest share of votes across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens, while Cuomo led in Staten Island. As counting continued, Mamdani maintained his lead with over one million votes, roughly 50% overall, while Cuomo followed with more than 800,000 votes (about 41%), and Sliwa remained in third with just over 100,000 votes (7%).

Mamdani’s victory signals a notable shift in New York City Politics. Mamdani’s rise reflects how younger, more diverse voters are reshaping the city’s political landscape. According to the Gothamist, early voter turnout in 2025 was more than five times what it was in 2021. More than 735,000 New Yorkers cast early ballots, a surge of younger voters was seen as voters ages 25-34 made up about 20% of the vote. 

The results of the election suggest that many New Yorkers want stronger action on housing affordability, public transit, and social services; issues Mamdani highlighted in his campaign. The transition from Eric Adams' more moderate administration to Zohran Mamdani’s pledge for a more progressive administration could bring policy changes at City Hall. The coming months will show how Mamdani’s administration translates campaign promises into policy amongst the city's complex challenges.

Back in June 2025, the Democratic Party primary election took place, where voters ranked candidates Adrienne Adams, Michael Blake, Andrew Cuomo, Brad Lander, Zohran Mamdani, Zellor Myrie, Jessica Ramos, Scott Stringer, and Whitney Tilson in ranked-choice voting. According to the Board of Elections, Mamdani won the democratic primary with 573,169 votes in the final round, with Cuomo following behind at 443,229 votes. After the primary election, Cuomo announced he was running in the Independent Party in order to continue his run in the race. With Eric Adams announcing he would end his bid for reelection back in September, this left a race between Mamdani, Cuomo, and Sliwa. Citizens of New York had been following candidates’ campaigns and mayoral debates since, deciding who would be their next mayor in the end.

In a poll commissioned by the Partnership for New York City in October, it was found that transit, safety, and affordability were top issues for voters. According to the poll, almost 50% of voters said that making public transit more reliable would improve their daily commutes, 41% wanted to see a more affordable and accessible city 10 years from now, and almost 40% felt that an increase in police and law enforcement would reduce crime.

Candidates responded to these issues, detailing plans for each. Mamdani focused heavily on housing affordability and social services, advocating for rent stabilization measures, increasing funding for public housing, and expanded community programs. In transit, Mamdani proposed to expand a pandemic-era pilot program and eliminate fares on all city buses. He also proposed expanding bus lanes in order to speed up bus traffic. Meanwhile, Cuomo highlighted creating a balance between expanding the MTA’s fare-free bus pilot program and maintaining the financial health of the MTA, urging the city and state to ensure sustainability and affordability of transit systems. Sliwa prioritized policing and crime reduction, proposing expanded police presence and expansion of the NYPD, while also addressing transit improvements and housing affordability.

While Mamdani’s victory marks a historic moment for New York City with supporters nationwide, his administration will face immediate and long-term challenges. One challenge Mamdani has been outspoken about is the question of Donald Trump’s implementation of ICE in New York City, and in a recent development, Trump’s threats to cut funding from the city if Mamdani were to win.

According to an interview from 60 Minutes with the president, Trump states: “It's gonna be hard for me as the president to give a lot of money to New York, because if you have a communist running New York, all you're doing is wasting the money you're sending there".

According to BBC, Mamdani has responded to the interview with President Trump, stating he would “Address that threat for what it is: it is a threat. It is not the law”. This challenge will certainly be one both citizens and Mamdani’s administration will be watching with ICE already infiltrating the streets, as numbers from the American Immigration Council show that immigrants account for 23% of the population in New York.

Zohran Mamdani’s election into office marks a historic moment for New York City, reflecting the influence of younger and more diverse voters.

The coming months will test his ability to turn campaign priorities on housing, transit, and social services into effective policies while navigating budgetary restraints and political challenges. How Mamdani’s administration addresses these issues will shape not only the city’s immediate future but also its role as a model for urban governance nationwide.